Nakamura on Positive Drug Test: "I Had Gynecological Issues I Didn't Want Anyone to Know About"

On July 19 the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) announced that distance runner Moeno Nakamura, 28, a former member of the Universal Entertainment women's ekiden team, had tested positive for the muscle tone-improving steroid metenolone during in-competition testing at last November's National Corporate Women's Ekiden, which Universal Entertainment won. As a result of the positive test Nakamura, who has already left the team, will be suspended for one year and three months and have her result at the ekiden annulled.

According to the JADA announcement, two months before the ekiden Nakamura underwent surgical treatment for a gynecological condition. Subsequent injections she received included the prohibited substance. JADA accepted her explanation that these were for post-operative therapeutic purposes but ruled her negligent in not having told her doctor that she was an athlete and in not confirming the contents of the injections.

In a statement released through Universal Entertainment, Nakamura said, "I didn't want anyone to know that I had this kind of gynecological problem, so I didn't tell the doctor that I was an athlete. I wasn't sufficiently conscious of my obligations as an athlete and I'm deeply sorry for what happened as a result."

More on this story. JADA's report on this case can be found here.

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https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20180719/ath18071920560007-n1.html
translated by Brett Larner